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Tips for smaller channels
Tips for smaller channels
Daniel Ch avatar
Written by Daniel Ch
Updated over a month ago

Use daily tests rather than hourly tests - At small scale, hourly testing isn't effective since the view differences (like 12 vs 10 views) aren't statistically significant enough to make good decisions.

  1. Delay testing start time - Wait at least 2-3 days after uploading before starting tests, as this gives time for the video to establish a baseline viewing pattern.

  2. Use consecutive testing instead of classic A/B testing - This means:

    • Show thumbnail A for several consecutive days, then thumbnail B for several consecutive days

    • Don't alternate between thumbnails daily

    • This gives YouTube's algorithm more time to recognize if a thumbnail/title combination is performing well

  3. Run longer test periods:

    • Minimum 4 days per thumbnail variation

    • For channels getting only a few hundred views, extend to 8 days per variation

    • Consider running 16-day total test periods (8 days for each variation)

  4. Focus on long-term growth - The goal isn't to get a few extra views immediately, but rather to:

    • Get the video suggested to new audiences

    • Appear in browse features

    • Show up in people's feeds

    • Break out beyond your usual audience

While these longer testing periods might not provide instant gratification, they're more likely to help smaller channels identify thumbnails and titles that could help their videos gain broader exposure and potentially go viral.

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